Turning podcasting into an automated process

One common message mentioned above all others during Podcast Movement Dallas was that we are suffering from a mimicry epidemic. At least we aren't turning podcasting into an automated process. Or are we?

Read further. You'll begin to understand later in this article.

Dozens of “inspiring interviews with entrepreneurs” podcasts have been released over the past year. Many follow a similar format of the big dog, John Lee Dumas by asking the same pre-determined questions about tough times and awesome a-ha moments..

Is this wrong? Maybe.

If John Lee Dumas followed the business model of 95% of the podcasters before him then we wouldn’t have the incredible success story of a guy making $40k a month on advertisements alone due to his daily podcast.

You can’t blame those who use the tools and best practices from those who created them. I’m guilty of this myself.

However, I stumbled across a new type of podcast that grabbed my attention. Call me a jerk, or a “podcasting purist”, but what I found just makes me feel like I'm being taken advantage of.

Computer generated podcasts?

Check this out: There is a complete library of audio podcasts in iTunes’ Health category. You may not notice it right away but if you do a search for Financial Wellness (which, BTW, don’t have anything to do with finances) and click “See All”. It will become abundantly clear – there’s something weird going on.

First of ally, you will notice 90% of the shows have very similar cover art: A blue background with colored laser lights bursting towards the image of a doctor.

What’s the problem? THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.

The episodes are the same, they are read by the same guy (even the female doctor podcasts) and the only difference is the contact information shared at the end.

But that's not the worst part.

Click on the artwork below and listen to a sample of any episode.

Click on artwork and sample

Do you hear what I hear?

Maybe I'm wrong here butit sounds like the voice of dictation software reading a blogpost. Either that or they hired a guy that took voice lessons from Siri.

The next easy way to podcast

Are these doctors cheating? Are they playing the podcasting game right? Is this a lazy way to podcast?

I’ll let you be the judge of that, but the most important question is: Does it work?

I am tempted to ask what this robotic podcast is doing for their business. For the past 20 to 30 years the way people found a new doctor was by searching a database for a physician in their company’s network or from the referrals of others.

Does this “easy way to podcast” help convince a potential client to call the office for an appointment? Does it confirm the perception a doc-shopper already had in their mind – further solidifying their decision to call or stay away?

Maybe this assembly-line type of podcast is the new way they market themselves. You know, like the State Farm solicitations that show up in the mailbox every-other day.

Promoting your business with a unique podcast

I believe everyone can create something unique. I also realize businesses need to grow.

Podcasting is a great way to give your client another reason to buy from you and to help bring more potential clients into your sales funnel.It is possible that this new computer-generated content creation idea catches fire and another wave of people enter the podcasting space.

Yours truly will be there with welcome arms while helping them create something unique that helps them stand above all the rest.

After all, even Sonny convinced Will Smith that he was not the same as all the other I Robots.

Let me help you stand out from the crowd

If you want to stand out from the rest of the crowd – and grab the attention of the vast audience looking for your product or service – then let me help you create your unique podcast.

If I can't help you then I can direct you to the best resource for launching your unique podcast.

Maybe Podcasters' Paradise is more suited to serve you or the one-on-one coaching from a seasoned expert like Dave Jackson from the School Of Podcasting is more your style. I belong to both and can help you decide what's the best value for your buck.

Disclosure: Links to Podcasters' Paradise and School Of Podcasting are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you join one of those membership sites. As I stated above, I am a satisfied member of both groups and recommend them without reservation – even if I didn't receive an affiliate commission.

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The interesting thing is (I use to help produce this audio) is the man behind this operation is making a killing. He pays to have a voice over person read it, then there is an intro and outro for each doctor (that’s recorded once). He’s automated the stitching of the audio (and put me out of a job). His target audience (Doctor’s and primarily chiropractors) have $$$ and are not educated in the ways of podcasting. They just know podcasting is the new hot thing, and they don’t have the time to create one themselves. The problem is these types of podcast (I feel) don’t have that personal connection. You don’t get to know the doctor. The doctor is only (more or less) the sponsor. You are also trusting someone else to pick content for your audience.

Maybe it is just me. But if I was looking for a doctor and I got a robopodcast. I’d run in another direction. When I’m looking for a clinician I’m looking for someone with whom I can connect. I’m looking for someone that is smart, and also cares. So I tend to see this kind of podcasting “anti-marketing.” In that it is going to drive many people away.